Legal age or codified age refers to age at which a person may legally engage in a certain activity, or purchase or possess a certain product or substance. Most frequently, this is the

age of majority The age of majority is the threshold of legal adulthood as recognized or declared in law. It is the moment when a person ceases to be considered a minor (law), minor, and assumes legal control over their person, actions, and decisions, thus te ...

(also known as the "age of maturity"), the threshold of adulthood as recognized in law. Other ages of legal significance include: * Age of candidacy, the age at which a person can legally qualify to hold certain elected government offices *

Age of consent The age of consent is the age at which a person is considered to be legally competent to consent to Human sexual activity, sexual acts. Consequently, an adult who engages in sexual activity with a person younger than the age of consent is un ...

, the legal age for sexual activities, the age at which a person is considered to be legally competent to consent to sexual acts *

Age of criminal responsibility The age of criminal responsibility is the age below which a child is deemed incapable of having committed a criminal offence. In legal terms, it is referred to as a defence/defense of infancy, which is a form of defense known as an excuse so t ...

Driving age A minimum driving age is the youngest age at which a person is permitted by law to drive a motor vehicle on public roads, including to practice for a driving test and obtain a driving licence. Minimum driving age laws are in place in most pla ...

, the age at which a person is permitted by law to drive * Gambling age, the age at which a person is permitted by law to gamble * Legal drinking age, the age at which a person is permitted by law to consume alcoholic beverages * Legal status of tattooing in European countries, includes the minimum legal age by European country in which a person can get a tattoo * Legal status of tattooing in the United States, includes the minimum legal age by U.S. state in which a person can get a tattoo * Legal working age, the age at which a person is allowed to work *

Legality of cannabis The legality of cannabis for Medical cannabis, medical and Recreational drug use, recreational use varies by country, in terms of its possession, distribution, and cultivation, and (in regards to medical) how it can be consumed and what me ...

, includes the minimum legal age set in countries where cannabis is legal at which a person can purchase, use, and possess cannabis *

Marriageable age Marriageable age is the minimum legal age of marriage. Age and other prerequisites to marriage vary between jurisdictions, but in the vast majority of jurisdictions, the marriageable age as a right is set at the age of majority. Nevertheless, ...

, the age at which a person is allowed to marry * Regulation of electronic cigarettes, includes the minimum legal age set in some countries at which a person can purchase, use, and possess an electronic cigarette and e-liquid *

Retirement age This article lists the statutory retirement age in different countries. In some contexts, the retirement age is the age at which a person is expected or required to cease work. It is usually the age at which such a person may be entitled to recei ...

School leaving age The school leaving age is the minimum age a person is legally allowed to cease attendance at an institute of compulsory education, compulsory secondary education. Most countries have their school leaving age set the same as their minimum full-time ...

Smoking age The smoking age is the minimum legal age required to purchase or use tobacco or cannabis (drug), cannabis products. Most countries have laws that forbid sale of tobacco products to persons younger than certain ages, usually the age of majority. ...

, the minimum legal age to purchase cigarettes *

Voting age A legal voting age is the minimum age that a person is allowed to Voting, vote in a democracy, democratic process. For General election, general elections around the world, the right to vote is restricted to adults, and most nations use 18 year ...

, the minimum legal age to be eligible to vote in a public election

Handling of
February 29 February 29 is a '' leap day'' (or "leap year day")—an intercalary date added periodically to create leap years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the 60th day of a leap year in both Julian and Gregorian calendars, and 306 day ...

If a legal age is to be attained by a person whose birthday is on February 29, the person may be deemed to reach the age by February 28 or March 1 on non-leap years depending on jurisdiction.

Australia

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

, the court has judged that a person whose birthday is on February 29 legally turns an adult on March 1, but not February 28.

Hong Kong

Section 5, Cap. 410 Age of Majority Ordinance specifies that where a person has been born on 29 February in a leap year, the relevant anniversary in any year other than a leap year shall be taken to be 1 March.

Taiwan

Article 121 in the Civil Code specifies that, "if there is no corresponding day in the last month, the period ends with the ending of the last day of the last month.", and article 124 specifies that "The age of a person is counted from his birthday." Therefore, if the birthday is on February 29, it falls on February 28 if the date February 29 doesn't exist in a particular year.

Media

Certain classifications of media, such as films and video games, can require a minimum legal age for purchase.

Miscellaneous

Certain items, which can include (but are not limited to): guns, fireworks, crossbows, knives, axes, blades, petrol, aerosol paint, solvents, lighter fuel, liqueur chocolates, and adult magazines, among others, can require a minimum legal age for purchase. This can also extend to the purchase of animals and the use of sunbeds.

Notes

References

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Handling of February 29 February 29 is a '' leap day'' (or "leap year day")—an intercalary date added periodically to create leap years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the 60th day of a leap year in both Julian and Gregorian calendars, and 306 day ...